An upcoming academic conference on poetry in the 1960s gives one of the first glimpses at “how the academy – or at least the progressive/experimental poetry wing of the academy – will be canonizing the period.” Accordingly of the 200 papers to be presented, “there were 151 US poets in the 1960’s who are now worthy of study. Twenty-seven are the subjects of multiple papers.” – Exquisite Corpse
Category: words
WORD MACHINE
Stephen King is a writing industry. He writes 2,000 words a day and churns out a new book every three months or so. “According to Forbes magazine, he makes in excess of $50,000,000 a year (and I didn’t accidentally add a few zeros).” – The Age (Melbourne)
POET OR FRAUD?
Andreas Karavis has become something of a literary sensation, with his work turning up in prestigious publications. But he’s never granted an interview, and some wonder whether he exists. Poet David Solway, who speaks on Karavis’ behalf “may well simply be the man who discovered Karavis and been responsible for promoting his work in Canada. Or, according to a growing body of conspiratorial thought among the literati, he and Karavis may be one and the same.” – The Globe and Mail (Canada)
POWER OF THE PRESS
In China, an editor is arrested as his subversive publication is distributed everywhere. “I understood that the Chinese government was more and more angry that this issue was everywhere in the country, in the cities and outside. They said they saw it everywhere, even in bookstores, and they didn’t like it.” – New York Times
THIS YEAR’S NOBEL LITERATURE PRIZE …
The Nobel committee failed to reach a decision last week on a winner for this year’s Nobel Prize for literature. “Margaret Atwood and Alice Munro are among a list of contenders for the $1.35-million prize that includes Chinese writer Bei Dao, Belgian author Ugo Claus, Trinidad’s V.S. Naipaul and Ireland short story author William Trevor.” – National Post (Canada)
NOBEL EFFORTS
Last week Czeslaw Milosz and Günter Grass traveled to Vilnius, Lithuania to unveil a plaque commemorating Joseph Brodsky. – Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
ATWOOD IS BOOKER FAVORITE
Margaret Atwood’s new book, “The Blind Assassin”, is the early favourite to win Britain’s Booker Prize. London bookmakers posted her as the 2 to 1 favorite. – National Post (Canada)
POTTERMANIA HITS CHINA
Harry Potter has come to China, creating the same sensation as it did in the rest of the world. Parents lined up for hours outside bookstores hoping to buy the latest accounts of “Ha-Li Bo-te,” as Potter is known in China. – BBC
BOOKER PRIZE FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
Finalists for the literary prize are: Margaret Atwood – “The Blind Assassin,” Trezza Azzopardi – “The Hiding Place,” Michael Collins – “The Keepers of Truth,” Kazuo Ishiguro – “When We Were Orphans,” Matthew Kneale – “English Passengers,” and Brian O’Doherty – “The Deposition of Father McGreevy”- BBC
LARGEST DONATION EVER TO LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
Billionaire John Kluge is donating $60 million to the Library of Congress. “Kluge’s money is the largest single gift in the institution’s 200-year history. The donation, according to a source close to the project, will be used to establish the John W. Kluge Center for scholars and a $1 million annual prize for lifetime achievement in scholarly endeavors. The center will be located in the library’s Jefferson Building and, like a university, will have endowed chairs in a number of fields.” – Washington Post